Bill-file



.(No Modl.) wheeze-sheen G. W. PLUMMER. 1 y I 1 Bill File. No. 241,716. Patented May 17, 1881..

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G. w. PLUM'MER. B111 F11e.

No. 241,716. Patented May 17,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

GEORGE W. PLUMMER, OF BROOKLYN, N EW YORK.

BILL-'FILE.

I ,SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0.241,716, dated May 17, 1881.

Application filed March 28, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may I concern Be it known that I, GEORGE WJPLUMMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvementsin-Bill Files and Indexes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved device forfiling, indexing, and securing together loose paperssuch as bills and letters-its object being to provide an expansible index-book in which the papers may be readily inserted, and glllligh may be quickly and securely bound when To enable others to construct and use my invention, I will particularly describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a file and index constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bookand retaining-strip removed. Fig. 3 is a view of the book unbound. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, showing the position of the parts when the book is sufficiently filled and ready to be removed from the box; and Fig. 5 is a view of the book after it has been removed and its leaves bound together. Fig. 6 gives views of different-kinds of paper-fasteners which may be used.

The letter A denotes the box,which is composed of the base-board a, back board, I), and end boards, 0 c, the top and front of the box being open.

Three tubes, D D D, which may be either round or angular in crosssection, project upward from the base-board, and are firmly secured thereto, about equidistant apart, on a line a little in front of and parallel with the back board. These tubes reach nearly to a level with the top of the back and end boards, and the end tubes are at a little distance from the end boards. The distance of the tubes from the back and end boards is such as to allow a proper margin of the leaves of thebook outside of the binding devices,say a half-inch.

A narrow bar, E, is supported directly above the row of tubes, with its ends resting on the end boards and engaged with pins f f, and said projecting from nearitsends, and books 11. piv-y tween the bar and the top of each tube the head of a paper-fastener, I, while the prongs of said fastener extend downward in the tube, as shown in Fig. 4. t

The book for receiving the papers to be filed and indexed is composed, preferably, of thirteen superposed folded sheets, each forming two leaves of equal size. On a line near the back or fold of the sheet are formed perforations to fit loosely over the tubes D, while the back and end edges of the leaves preferably do not quite touch the back and end boards.

The leaves are to be indexed in any suitable manner-say with lettered tabs, or by having the front margins cut to lap and show successively from front to last leaf--as shown in Fig. 3.

To prepare the device for use the leaves are placed upon the base-board in regular order, Z at the bottom and A at the top, and with their perforations passed over the tubes D. A paper-fastener with prongs of proper length is then inserted in each tube, as shown in Fig. 4, the head of the fastener resting upon the top of the tube and its prongs extending therein. The retaining-bar E is then placed above the row of tubes, and upon or nearly touching the heads of the fasteners, and secured by the hooks h being engaged with the staples. The device is then ready for use, and the leaves may be readily separated to permit the insertion of papers in their proper places.

In order to allow plenty of play for the leaves and expansibility for the book, the tubes may be four or five times as high as the thickness of the book before any papers are inserted, and somewhat higher than the thickness the book will have when full. A perforated pastelooard strip, 70, may be laid under and upon the rear margin of the book to strengthen it.

The book having been filled, or become as full as desired, the retaining-bar is to be released from its fastenings, the tips of the fingers of one handplaced upon it and the other hand inserted under the book, which is then to be raisedfrom the base-board, slipped off 100 the tubes, turned, and laid upon a table with the prongs of the fasteners which it carries with it upward. These prongs may be then spread in the usual manner, and the book is 5 securely bound. A new book may be then placedin the box and used in a similar manner.

I prefer to use the style of binders or paperfasteners known to the trade as McGrills Paper-Fasteners, but any other suitable fasten- IO ers having prongs and heads may be used.

The box may be provided with as many tubes as desired, and it may be made of wood, tin, pasteboard, or any other suitable material.

I do not broadly claim a bill or paper file 15 composed of a baseboard and tubular posts on which the indexed leaves are placed; nor do I claim tubular impaling-pins containing devices for tying or binding the papers together after the desired number have been filed.

What I claim is 1. A bill or letter file possessing the following characteristics, namely: the base a, provided with the end boards, a c, and the stationary vertical tubes D, the headed pron ged paper-fasteners I, arranged within the tubes with their heads resting upon and supported by the ends of the tubes, and the removable bar E, resting upon the end boards of the base and retaining the paper-fasteners within the tubes, all as and for the purposes herein described.

2. The bill or letter file composed of a base and end boards, the row of tubes projecting from said base-board, the perforated leaves, arranged upon said base-board with their perforations over the tubes, the headed paper fasteners, having their prongs inserted in the tops of said tubes, and their heads supported by said tops, and the removable retaining-bar arranged above the tops of the tubes and heads of the fasteners, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. W. PLUMMER. Witnesses:

ROSWELL PLUMMER, WILLIAM 0. STORY. 

